Hot Stove Season

[Update] Rays have now officially announced the deal. [Update] Marc Topkin is now reporting that is a done deal. [Earlier] Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com is reporting (via Twitter) that the Rays are close to completing a trade with the Marlins for shortstop Yunel Escobar. In exchange, the Marlins would acquire […]

David Price won’t be a free agent until after the 2015 season. But according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Rays have already given up hope of signing Price to a long-term deal making it more likely that Price is traded sooner, rather than later… “[Rays] people conceded their chances […]

Every winter the national media writes from the same template: “The Rays have to trade a starting pitcher for more offense.” And outside of the Matt Garza deal, in which the Cubs gave the Rays an offer they couldn’t refuse, and the occasional ho-hummer (e.g. Jason Hammel for Aneury Rodriguez), the […]

Here are some Hot Stove odds and ends… Marc Topkin reports that the Rays have shown interest in Marlins shortstop Yunel Escobar, who caused a bit of stir this past season by writing a gay slur on his eyeblack during a game. [TampaBay.com] In the same report, Topkin says the […]

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com polled 17 “prominent executives, agents and scouts” and asked them, among other things, who is the player most likely to be traded this week at the Winter Meetings. And in a narrow victory, James Shields takes home the honor, receiving five votes. One executive seems convinced […]

As the winter meetings crank up, here are a few odds and ends… Marc Topkin reports that the Rays have had “some good discussions” about re-signing Kyle Farnsworth. [TampaBay.com] There has been some discussion of a trade with the Nationals for Danny Espinosa and Michael Morse with the Rays giving […]

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that Jeff Keppinger broke a bone in his leg but says he will be ready by the start of spring training. But more importantly, Heyman says in the same report that it is a strong off-season for part-time, yet productive players like Keppinger. Heyman points […]

Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star reports that the Rays have indeed discussed a trade with the Royals in which the Rays would send James Shields to Kansas City for top hitting prospect Wil Myers. On the surface it seems like the backbone of decent deal. Rays have excess […]

BJ Upton could be nearing a decision on a new home and a very large contract. According to Marc Topkin, Upton is “looking to make a decision this week.” And right now it sounds like a bidding war is starting to erupt between the Phillies, Braves, and possibly another team. […]

According to Marc Topkin, the Rays “have interest” in Chone Figgins who was just released by the Mariners with one year and $8 million left on his contract. The interest makes sense considering: a) he played with the Angels when Joe Maddon was a coach there; b) he can play […]